GRANT (Jr), WILLIAM (Grave), Anderson & Oconee County, SC
A.K.A. Townville SC
Version 2.3, 1-Feb-04, A398.TXT, A398
****************************************************************
REPRODUCING NOTICE:
-------------------
These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format for
profit, or presentation by any other organization, or persons.
Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must
obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal
representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb
archivist with proof of this consent.
Paul M Kankula - nn8nn
Seneca, SC, USA
SC GenWeb GoldenCorner Volunteer County Coordinator
Anderson: Anderson: http://www.sciway3.net/usgenweb/anderson-county/
Oconee: http://www.sciway3.net/usgenweb/oconee-county/
Pickens: http://www.sciway3.net/usgenweb/pickens-county/
****************************************************************
DATAFILE INPUT . : Paul M. Kankula at (visit above website) in May-2003
DATAFILE LAYOUT : Paul M. Kankula at (visit above website) in May-2003
G.P.S. MAPPING . : Gary Flynn ay (visit above website) in Sep-2003
HISTORY WRITE-UP : Kristy Smith at ksmith@netmds.com in Sep-2003
IMAGES ......... : Knight Cox at kcox@clemson.edu in Sep-2003
LOCATION WRITE-UP: Paul M. Kankula at (visit above website) in Sep-2003
TRANSCRIPTION .. : Gordon Dill (TV4/Greenville) at gdill@hearst.com in Sep-2003
CEMETERY LOCATION:
------------------
Prior to visiting this cemetery, you should contact -
Knight Cox
kcox@clemson.edu
Clemson University
Clemson Experimental Forest
266A Lehotsky Hall
Box 340334
Clemson, SC 29634-0334
(864) 656-4833
Key to gate is available, but requires $20 refundable deposit.
Locate the town of Townville.
Drive (E) on Highway 24 (towards Anderson)
In 0.4 miles bear left (NE) onto SR S4-92 (Coneross Rd).
In 2.5 miles look for a small dirt road on your left with a chain gate.
This cemetery is located deep in the woods and extremely difficult to find.
The Ivy covered foundation of Grant's home is the only landmark.
Grave is about 300 yards (E) of foundation (downhill).
Latitude N 34 35.243 x Longitude W 82 52.659
CHURCH/CEMETERY HISTORY:
------------------------
Paragraphs from The History of Anderson County By Vandiver page 76-77
On the dividing line between Anderson and Oconee counties is an old
grave. It lies half in each county; in it rests William Grant. He was a
brave soldier of the Revolution, fought at Cowpens, Guilford Court
House, Eutaw Springs, and several other places. After the war he took up
land in the newly opened Cherokee country, and his home built on
Coneross Creek, near its junction with the Seneca River, is standing
on the road between Pendleton and Townville.
Mr. Grant was a Universalist in religion, and a Whig in politics. A
staunch Union man during the nullification troubles. One day during the
excitement caused by that political episode, a party of gentlemen, among
whom were Col. Kilpatrick and some of the Harrison's of Harrisonburg, on
the Seneca River, strong nullifiers, stopped at Mr. Grant's house,
Conversation soon turned on politics; shortly argument waxed warm, the
old soldier standing stoutly for the Union he had helped to form. One
of the gentlemen banteringly accused him of having been a Tory.
Immediately he announced his intention of applying for a pension, a
thing he had always scorned to do. But he said if it required a pension
to prove his loyalty, a pension he would have; and he got it.
Mr. Grant was a prosperous man and something of a money lender. He was
a rather rough old fellow, lived in a two-story cabin, went barefooted,
and did pretty much as he pleased. He often sat on his little piazza
with his bare feet propped on the banisters. A gentleman from Pendleton
rode up to the house one day to talk to him about borrowing some money.
The road at that time ran directly by the house and very close to it.
The visitor found him in his favorite attitude on his porch. He rode up
to the steps and stated his business. The old man did not change his
position, merely wiggled his toes and replied: "Pay me what you owe me,
then maybe you can get some more."
It was by his order that his grave was located. It was within
unobstructed view of his home He said when he arose, he wanted the
first object his eyes encountered to be his own house, moreover he
wanted to watch his wife sell corn to passing travelers. He used to say
that when he died be was going to turn into a white horse.
o----------o
His house remained until 1955. English Ivy now covers the foundation/cellar.
In c1934, the area was broken up into 4 different land tracts. 2-Gaines, 1-
Whitfield & 1-Ralph F. King
Old Hephzibah Baptist Church was a stone's throw away but moved across
the creek approx 1850.
o----------o
State of South Carolina, Anderson District
On this [blank] day of March 1835 personally appeared in open
court in the Court of Sessions & Common Pleas, before one of the
Associate Judges of the said State, William Grant, a resident in
the District of Anderson and State aforesaid, aged seventy-three
years on the 3rd August last, 1834, who being first duly sworn
according to law doth, making oath, make the following declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of
Congress passed June 7th 1832 --
That he entered the Army of the United States in the month of
November in the year 1779 as a private as a volunteer in what was
called the Minute Service, in the Spartan Regiment as it was
called, in what is now called Union District, under command of
Capt. Joseph McJunkin, Lieut. Col. Stein, of Col. Brandon's
Regiment, to go to Charleston against the British, and was marched
to the branch ten miles form Charleston and stationed there until
the 10th March 1780. He was called out for 3 mo. but it was about
upwards of 4 mo. before relieved by the N.C. troops.
2nd) Being still in the Minute Service in November 1780 he
was called on again and entered the service under Capt. William
Grant, Major Joseph McJunkin, Col. Thomas Brandon, by order of
General Sumpter to go to Fosses' Ford. They were pursued by Col.
Tarleton to Blackstock's where there was an engagement and in which
Gen'l Sumpter was wounded & left the field that night, and they
scattered and went home having been out not less than one month.
3rd) He was in November 1780 appointed 1st Lieutenant in
Capt. William Grant's company by Col. Thomas Brandon, who commanded
the Regiment, and was ordered to collect provisions for General
Morgan's Army before it should arrive at Grindal's Shoals on
Pacolet River. He joined General Morgan's Army when it arrived
there & attacked the Tories at Hammond's Old Store & defeated them
there under the Bloody William Cunningham & took two wagons loaded
with arms & a good many prisoners and returned to Grindal's Shoals
& joined Morgan's Army -- & marched to the Cowpens and was in the
Battle there on the 17th January 1781, and in the battle did
command as a Lieut. under Capt. William Grant. After the Battle a
call was made for volunteers to guard the prisoners to Sherrell's
Ford on the Catawba River. He went by Rutherford, Sherrell's Ford
and nearly to the Yadkin River, as the British were pursuing. He
was out that time not less than three months as a First Lieutenant
and as a volunteer.
4th) In the Spring of 1781 Gen'l Sumpter called out the
minute men and, Capt Grant being already at Neal's Mill, Col.
Brandon ordered this applicant, being 1st Lieut., to collect the
volunteers and to go with him, the Col., to join General Greene at
the Congaree Fort. Applicant did collect his men and went, under
Col. Brandon, to Congaree Fort. Sometime after their arrival,
Gen'l Greene ordered General Sumpter to take Col. Brandon's Reg't
and attack the Fort at Orangeburg. Applicant went with Brandon &
Sumpter & they took the Fort (the Old Jail) and 80 Tories & some
British prisoners, commanded by Col. Fisher. About this time Gen'l
Marion had taken Wright's Bluff -- Greene the Congaree Fort. They
were then sent home to collect more men and ordered to meet at 96,
where Gen'l Greene intended to besiege that Fort and drive the
enemy from the back country. He did raise some men, joined Major
Jolley of Col. Brandon's Regiment, went to the siege at 96 &
remained there until the siege was raised, when he returned home
and was required to guard Col. Brandon's Bull Pen, as it was
called. He was out as Lieut. not less than one month to Congaree
& Orangeburg, and not less than one month [to the] siege of 96.
5th) About the month of August or Sept. 1781 he was called
upon as 1st Lieut. commanding a company to raise men and join
General Greene at McCord's Ferry. He immediately turned out and
went on to Ancrum Old Place where they joined Col. Lee's Corps of
horse and went on to McCord's Ferry with him, under Major Jolley.
[He] was there taken sick and was appointed Officer of the Sick and
left there with a promise of support & assistance. After remaining
there some time and obtaining no support, the applicant discharged
all the sick who were living and all that could went home. He went
home & was sick all the next winter. [He] was out not less than
two & a half months.
6th) In the Spring of 1782, being in commission, he was
called on to take his men & guard Orangeburg & he turned out as
Lieut. under Maj. or Lieut. Col. Fair, went with him to Orangeburg,
was with him there on duty not less than two months & was relieved
or discharged & returned.
7th) About the 1st of July 1782 he volunteered as a Lieut.
with part of Grant's Company under the same Major Jolley and went
with him to Bacon's Bridge, by order of General Pickens, was there
for some time not less than two months, when they were dismissed
and Major Jolley died soon after his return.
He served as a Private 1st tour: 4 months
2nd tour: 1 month
---------
5 months, Private
He served as a 1st Lieut. 1st tour: 3 mo.
2nd tour: 2 mo.
3rd tour: 2 1/2 mo.
4th tour: 2 mo.
5th tour: 2 mo.
--------------------
11 1/2 mo. as Lieut.
He refers to the affidavit of Major Joseph McJunkin, who was
Capt. when he first turned out volunteer & lived near & knew well
of his service & would have said more or stated the service more
fully, but the Magistrate was of opinion he had stated full enough
(he not knowing). If he can procure an other witnesses he will
also furnish them. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to
a pension or annuity except the present, and he declares his name
is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State.
And he makes the following answers to the Interrogatories
required by the War Department to be put to the applicant --
And to the 1st he answers & says he was born in Augusta County
Va. 3d Aug. 1761.
2nd He has the record of his age now in his possession in
Anderson District in his father's Old Prayer Book.
3rd He lived on Pacolet River near to Pinckneyville in what
is now Union District.
4th He was always a Volunteer.
5th He was with Generals Morgan, Greene and Henderson of the
Regular Army, and with Cols. Howard, Lee & Washington of the same,
and with the Militia officers above named.
6th He never received a written discharge. He had a
Commission written & signed by Col. Brandon [and] states the
British had at that time control of the State & he does not know
that any other kind of Commissions were issued.
7th He lives near & is acquainted with John Harris, Esq., the
Judge of the Court of Ordinary of the District, and Col. John C.
Kilpatrick, Revolutionary Soldier, and Capt. John Maxwell, member
of the Legislature, Col. Robert Anderson, Clerk, H. Reps. He can
refer to them and all who know him for an honest character.
Sworn to and subscribed his
the day and year aforesaid William X Grant
in open court. mark
Contributed by: Kristy Smith at ksmith@netmds.com
o----------o
William Grant was a brother to my Daniel and
we looked for that grave back in 1991 and the engineers for the area sent me a
map for which I was thankful.. He originally lived in a two story log house
and was married twice....I did an article , including him, for Greenville
Genealogy, this past summer. Richard Grant from Seneca gave me a lot if info
on the area and I managed to find the graves....Daniel is buried at Salem
and so is his wife.....the stones you cannot half read....in the Whitmire
Methodist church cemetary off Hwy 11.....Daniel was my gr----grandfather.....
I think the military should have kept up the graves next to Camp Sevier.....
That has always bothered me.....My sons want to be buried in Military cemetaries
and my husband is buried at Bushnell Military Cemeteary in Florida.
Daniel was in the Rev War also.....William piloted Daniel Morgan down from
Gridal Shoals for the battle of Cowpens and was in the battle, as was his
father, Capt William Grant.....He is buried at Tigerville Baptist Church, by the
way....He first married Elizabeth Boone then Keturah after Elizabeth died...
William at Townville is son of Elizabeth Boon....as was Daniel, Israel and
Dickson...then she died...All this is documented in Virginia rcords from
Cumberland Fort in Augusta County. Margarette Swank Swank203@bellsouth.net
o----------o
Paul I have a small article that came from the "The Anderson Intelligencer" page
11 volume 1. "Grant, William lived on Conneross Creek, on the line of Anderson
and Pickens. He was an Officer, perhaps a Lieutenant, and served under General
Pickens. He was of an austere dispostion, strong predjudice, and doubtless a
terror to the Tories. He died in 1851, and was buried on the line of Anderson
and Pickens Districts, on the old homestead. Alarge gathering was had at his
grave shortly afterwards, and the late Orr, J.L., Gov., and Easley, William K.,
Gen., delivered eulogies on the life and eminent services of the old soldier.
There was a write up on 18 April 1889 about the " Recollections of the "Fork"
Country" Five Revolutionary Soldiers." William Grant was one of the five.
Terri Adger
TOMBSTONE TRANSCRIPTION NOTES:
------------------------------
a. = age at death
b. = date-of-birth
d. = date-of-death
h. = husband
m. = married
p. = parents
w. = wife
GRANT, William (Jr), b. 3-aug-1761, d. 28-aug-1851, 3' high slab stone wall
surrounds grave, dar memorial marker erected 14-aug-1909 saying "brandon's
sc mil. rev. war soldier"